Happy New Year 2016: Guide to London's New Year's Day parade

The 30th New Year's Day Parade will take place in London on 1 January, drawing thousands to watch the entertainment marking the start of 2016. More than 8,000 performers will take part in the free event, which is expected to attract around 500,000 people from across the capital and beyond. This year's entertainment will reflect the theme of 30 Magical Years.

When does it start and what is the route?

It begins at 12noon at Piccadilly and finishes at Parliament Square at 3.30pm. The parade will go through Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. Click here for a map of the route.

How do I get there?

Westminster, Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross stations are all on or very near the Parade route for access via the Tube. Embankment, St James's Park and Green Park are all a short distance away. For up-to-date travel information and to plan your connections within the capital, visit Transport for London.

To get there by mainline rail, Charing Cross British Rail station is about a five minutes' walk away from Trafalgar Square, which is at the middle of the parade route.